Means for producing uniform fluid mixtures



sept. 21, 194s. c. A. BROWN Y 2,449,766

" MEANS FOR PRODUCING UNIFORM FLUID MIXTURES v I Filed uarch 1, 1944 s sheets-sheet 1 im f 'l fz@ CL Vof. 59am/M, Y

Sept. 21, 1948. c. A. BROWN Y 2,449,766 l MEANS FOR l-RODUCING UNIFORM FLUID MIXTURES Filed March 1, 1944 s sheets-sheet '2 Sept. 21, 1948. 4cz. A. BROWN 2,449,766

l MEANS FOR PRDUCING UNIFORM FLUID MIXTURES Filed March l, 1944 v 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 C2 mf f7. Sean/N.

Patented Sept. 2 1, 1948 Clyde A. Brown, Chicago, Ill., assigner to Dole- Valve Illlnoi Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of s Application March 1. 1944, Serial No. 524,548 4 Claims. (Cl. 236-12) The present invention relates to a method of and means for producing a uniform fluid mixture from a plurality of individual fluids each of which possesses certain distinct physical characteristics. More particularly. the invention is concerned with a process and apparatus for producing a fluid mixture having a predetermined uniform temperature fro-m fluid supplies of different temperatures.

The term "physical characteristic. as hereinafter employed, refers either to an inherent property of the fluid; or to a temporarily imposed condition or state of the iiuid, such for example as temperature or pressure.

In the production of any fluid mixture having a certain predetermined degree of uniformity from a plurality. o f different uid supplies, it is necessary to take into account -certain variations which may inadvertently occur in the fluid supplies as they are introduced to the mixing area. For instance, in producing a mixed water supply of apredetermined uniform temperature, variations in pressure and temperature of each of the individual supplies going to make up the mixture supplies having differing physical characteristics or properties.

several fluid supplies employed in producing a given fluid mixture for controlling the admission of the individual fluid supplies to the mixing area.

, It is a still further object of the present invention to provides. mixing device having a mixate a plurality of fluid pressure responsive means in such manner that they are out of phase with each other with respect to the dynamic forces which tend to cause a pulsating or chattering condition.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide la structure for accomplishing the forey going purposes which is simple in construction.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a method of and means for employing one or more of the characteristics or properties of the individual fiuid supplies in controlling the admission of the proper proportions of the component fluids to produce the desired fluid mixture. A still further object of the present invention is the provision of a means for mixing the proper proportions of the component fluid supplies to produce a mixture having the desired predetermined physical characteristics or properties.

Another and still further object of the present invention involves the-provision of a thermostatically controlled means-which serves to create a pressure differential between portions of the low in cost and effective in its operation.

For the sake of clarification, the invention may be more fully described by reference to the accompanying drawings in which are illustrated three embodiments ofa mixer valve structure which employ the principles of the present invention. The mixer valve units illustrated in the drawings are advantageously designed to produce a mixed fluid of predetermined constant temperature from a plurality of fluid supplies of different temperatures. The temperature of the mixed fluid discharged` from the valve` ofthe present invention remains constant in accordance with the predetermined setting of the thermosensitive element provided in the unit in spite vof inadvertent, but frequently occurring, fluctuations in the4 temperature and pressure of each component fluid supply.

On the drawings:

lFigure 1 represents a section taken through one form of mixer valve unit embodying the principles of the present invention; y y

Figure 2 is a section through the mixer valve unit of Figure 1 taken substantially along the line II-II;

Figure 3 is a section,'corresponding generally with Figure 1, of another form'of mixer valve unit which embodies the teachings of the present invention;

Figure 4 is a section, ,corresponding generally to that cf'Figure 1, through still another form :of mixer valveunit;

Figure 5 corresponds generally to Figure 4, lolitillustrates the mode of operation of the, valve unit; and

The inlet passages I4 and I5 are separated by t a wall portion 32 disposed internally of the cas-` Figure 6 is a fragmentary section taken along provided with a pair of externally threaded inlet connections II and I2 for connecting with suitable supply conduits for introducing hot and cold water, respectively, to the internally disposed mixing chamber I3 in the casing I0 by means of inlet passages I4 and I5 associated with said connections Ii and I2 respectively. An opening I6 is provided in the wall of the casing I3 sub-l stantially opposite the point at which the inlet passages I4 and I5 are disposed for communication with the mixing chamber I3 in said casing III.

An extension I8 having a projection I1 and a flanged portion I3 is adapted to be inserted in the opening i6 in the wall of casing i0 in such fashion that the flanged portion I8 will register with the outer wall of casing I0. The extension I3 is secured to the casing I3 as by means of a plurality cf fastening means, such as the machine screws 20,'whichlmay be threaded into holes provided in the casing wall. A suitable gasket 2i is provided at the junction of the flanged portion I9 with the wall of the casing I3 to p re- I vent the leakage of fluid from the mixing chamber I3 through the opening I3 and between the casing I0 and extension I3.

The extension I8 provides an externally thread- I ed connection 22 to which may be secured any suitable form of -fluid conduit for handling the mixed water supply discharged from the mixer valve unit. The outlet connection 22 communicates with the thermostat 'chamber 23 formed within the extension I8 in which is disposed a suitable thermo-sensitive element 24. 'I'he thermostat -chamber 23, in turn, connects with the mixing chamber I3 of the casing I8 as by means of the bore 25 extending through the projection i1 of the extension I3.

The thermostatic element 24 may conveniently take any suitable form, being illustrated here as being a bi-metallic coil which is supported in any suitable fashion. such for example. as by means of the pin 28. The pin 23, to which an end of the coil of the thermostatic element .24 is secured, extends transversely ci the thermostat chamber 23 and is supported by the walls of the extension i3. While it is preferable that the thermostatic element 24 of the mixer valve unit be adjusted to provide a desired predetermined ltemperature of the mixed water supply when it leaves the factory, means may advantageously be provided to afford adjustment ofthe setting to provide a certain degree of flexibility in the operation of thevunit.

A counterbore lin the end of the bore 25 cut into projection fil of the extension Il and adiacent the mixing chamber I3 forms a shoulder` 28l which accommodates a. plate 23 which may be press flt or otherwise suitably secured therein. The plate 29 is provided-with an orifice 33 disposed substantially centrally thereof for regulatlng III and have outlets 33 and 34, respectively, at the mixing chamber I3. The outlets 33 and 34 have annularly shaped inserts 35 disposed in the 'openings thereof to afford valve seats. The inserts 35 may be secured in the outlets 33 and 34 in any suitable fashion, but are advantageously inserted in such a way that they form little or no obstruction to the flow of fluid therethrough to the mixing chamber I3.

A pair of openings 33 an-d 31 are provided extending through the wall of the casing I0 opposite Veach of the outlets 33 and `34' with their axes substantially normal to the inlet passages I4, I5 and the opening I8 in the casing so as to communicate with the mixing chamber I3. A pair oi'. annularly shaped diaphragms 38, 38a are mounted at opposite ends of a headed rod 40 which passes through a centrally disposed aperture in the reinforced central valve portion 43 of each diaphragm and is slidably carried in apering through the wall thereof and accommodating.

4openings 33 and 31.

- without restricting the freedom of movement tures in the wall 32 of the casing I 3. The rod 4 II is threaded at one end to receive a nut 4I backed by a washer 42 to serve as an adjustment for the spacing between the valve portions 43 of said diaphragms 33, 33a.

The diaphragms 33 and 38a may be formed of rubber, synthetic' rubber, neoprene or other similar material to produce the desired flexibility of operation. Each diaphragm comprises an external annular bead portion 44and an imper forate flexible web portion 45 which supports the centrally disposed valve portion 43 adapted to seat against the insert 35 in the outlets 33 or 34 of inlet passages I4 and I5, respectively. The diaphragms 38, 33a are secured in place against an annular shoulder 43, formed by counterboring the openings 33 and 31, as by means oi. the thimbles 41, 41a which are threaded into said Suitable gaskets may be provided on opposite sides oi' the bead portions 44 of the diaphragms 38, 3a and under the flanged ends of thimbles 41, 41a to prevent leakage 'of fluid from the mixing chamber I3.

The rod member 40, at the point where it passes -through the internal wall 32, is supplied with a packing ring 43 disposed about its periphery. The packing ring 48 is disposed in an enclosure 43 formed within the wall 32 which permits said packing ring to move axially withthe ,rod 40 of the rod.

Recesses 5I, 51a are formed in the under side of thimbles 41, 41a and cooperate with the diaphragms 38, 38a to provide enclosed chambers 52, 52a. An annular groove 53, 53a, is cut into the external periphery of each thimble 41, 41a and communicates with recesses 5I, Bia through a plurality of substantially radially extending apertures 54, 54a. lEach groove 53, 53a, is connected with its associated inlet passage I4 or I5, as the case may be, through their respective passageways 55 or 53.' Similar passageways 51 and 53 interconnect the grooves 53 and 53a respectively. with the opening I3 in the wall of casing I3.

The projection i1 of the extension I8 has a pair of oppositely disposed apertures 53 extendthe' generally cylindrically shaped guides 30. Each of the guides 30'has an aperture 3| in the base thereof which registers with the passageway 51 or 5I, as the case may be. A washer 82 composed of rubber, artificial rubber, neoprene yor other similar material is secured in the base of 4 perature.

equal.

, 5 each guide 60 in sucnfashion that its aperture registers with the aperture 6I in the base of the guide 80.

The washers 82 serve to form a somewhat more flexible contact for the generally cone-shaped ends of a pilot valve 63 which extends transversely of the bore 26 of the projection I1 of extension I8. The pilot valve 83 is flexibly mounted upon the free end of the thermostatic element 24 as by means ,of the slot and cylinder connection 64 to control the ow of iluid through the passages 51 and, 5B. The linwardly projecting generally cylindrical walls 'of the guides/ 60 serve to aid in centering the cone-shaped ends of the pilot valve 63 with respect to the openings in the washers 62 against which these ends seat in the operation of the device.

In the operation of the mixer v alve unit` of the present invention, the fluid supplied by the conduits connected to inlet passages I4 and I6 passes into the mixing chamber I 3, and through the orifice 30, in plate 29 into the thermostat chamber 23. The thermostatic element 24, as` already indicated, has been adjusted to produce a fluid mixture of a desired predetermined tem- As the iluid entering the thermostat chamber n 28 comes into contact with the thermostatic ele.-

ment 26, the element reactsto cause the pilot valve 63 to seat against one of the washers 62 in onefof the guides 60 which tends to cut oil either passageway 51, if the fluid mixture is too hot, or passageway 68 if the mixture is too cold. It will be understood that when the temperature of the mixed iluid entering the thermostat chamber is substantially the same as that for which the thermostat is set. the pilot valve 63 will be balanced at some point between the extremities oi' its lateral movement.

When .the individual fluid supplies are introduced to their respective inlet passages I4 and I5 at the start of the operations, a small part of each fluid supply by-passes through passageways 55 and 56 into the chambers 52 and 62a formed by recesses 5I and 5Ia ln thimbles 41 and 41a and out through passageways r51 and 5B into the thermostat chamber 23. By reason of the fact that the several passageways are open when the pilot valve is positioned equidistant the washers 62 in guides 60 the fluid pressure on the diaphragms 38 and 38a adjacent the recesses 6I and Bla of thimbles 31 and 31a is substantially The fluid will, thus, continue to ilow into the mixing chamber I3 through outlets 33 and 34 until a variation in temperature or pressure of the fluid supplies occurs. n

If a change in temperature or pressure takes place in one or both of the iluid supplies, the thermostatic element 24 immediately operates to shift the pilot valve 63 to adjust the opening through which the fluid escapes from chambers 52 or 62a, as the case may be, to compensate for this variation. Let us assume that the temperatureof the hot fluid admitted through inlet passage I4 drops.` The thermostatic element 24 instantly reacts to the lowering of the temperature of the mixed uid, thus moving the pilot valve 63 toward a position to close oil the passage 58 and thereby causing the passage 51 to be opened more.

The opening of passage 51 causes the fluid to drain more rapidlyfroxn chamber`52 thereby reducing the fluid pressure on diaphragm 38 within 6. A temporary pressure dinerential will thus exist externally ot diaphragme 38 and 33a which causes the rod 40 to shlit axially. The valve portion 43 'of' diaphragm 38 recedes farther from its seat on insert 3! Vin outlet 33 while the valve portion 43 oi' diaphragm 38a is urged toward its seat on its associated insert 36 in outlet 34. The aforementioned operations permit the admission of a great er proportion of hot iiuid and a consequent diminution of the supply of cold fluid to mixing chamber I3. n

With the elements disposed in the position shown in Figure 1 oi' the drawings, the hot fluid supply is temporarily closed off completely. When the temperature of the mixed duid has been adjusted to the temperature for which the thermostatic element 24 is set. the pilot valve 63 will be shifted and the ilow of hot fluid again restored in the manner above described.

A change in the pressure of one of the fluid supplies for the mixer valve unit will cause the structure to react in a mannersimilar to that just described as being caused by a variation in temperature. It will be understood that the opposite operation takes place in the event that the temperature of the hot uid supply increases or the pressure of the cold iluid supply is reduced. bringing about a consequent change in the mixed iluid temperature.

The principle of operation involved, therefore, is one of utilizing the pressure in the individual fluid supplies controlled by a pilot valve actuated by a thermosensitive element to create a pressure diiferenti'al to open and close the outlets through which the fluid supplies are admitted to the mixing area.

T'he mixer valve unit of Figures 1 and 2 is particularly advantageous in that the use of two diaphragms overcomes chattering by reason of the fact that the diaphragms will always be out of phase with respect to each other as far as dynamic forces tending to produce a pulsating condition are concerned. i

The embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figure 3 of the -drawingsis generally similar to that shown in Figures l and 2. The mixing valve unit oi Figure 3 embodies a casing 68 havingpexternally threaded fluid connections 69 and 1li, the first of which is adapted to be connected to a suit-able conduit Supplying hot fluid'and the other for receiving a conduit handling cold fluid. The connections` 69 and 1Il have inlet passages 1I and 12. respectively, associated therewith which connect with a mixing chamber 13 disposed internally of the casingl 68 as by means of the outlet openings 14 and 15, respectively, taking the form of valve seats.

A n extension 16 has an outlet connection 11 which is externally threaded for receiving a suitable conduit for handling -the mixed iluid discharged from the thermostat chamber 1B therethe chamber 52. Conversely, the closing of vpassage 58 simultaneously creates a greater pressure against the diaphragm 38a in the chamber 52a.

wall of the casing 68 in such fashion that the flanged portion 8| of the extension 16 may be secured to said casing, as for example, by screws 8.2. A suitable gasket may advantageously be provided to prevent leakage between the casing 63 and the extension 16.

The thermostat chamber 18 in the extension 18 communicates with the mixing chamber 13 in lthe casing 68 as by means of an opening 83. The opening 83 which extends through the end wall of the projection has la plate 84 mounted therein having a centrally disposed oriilce 85. The

plate 04 may be secured in the end o! the projection oi extension 10 as by being press nt against a shoulder 00 formed about the opening 00 in the end of said projection 00. f. l

Thevalve 'for controlling the ilow oi iiuid vthrough each pair oi' outlet' openings 14 and 1l in the inlet passages 1| and 12, respectively, advantageously takes the form oi a spool valve 01. The valve 01 has a plurality oi' spaced. generally frusto-conically shaped portions 08 and 00 thereon ior seating in said outlet openings 14 and 10.

' The valve 01 is supported at one end thereof by through a centrally disposed aperture in the diaphragm 00 and is secured thereto by a nut 94 threaded on rod 02 and backed by a washer 00. The diaphragm 03 which is substantiallyidentical to the diaphragme 38,08a of the embodiment oi the invention illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 previously described has an annular bead 90, an imperiorate web portion 01 and a reinforced centrally disposed portion 00. Y

A bore |00 is provided in the wall of the casing 00 and disposed concentrioally with the opening 00 to receive diaphragm 03 which is held in place in the base thereof by the' thimble |0| of a thermo-sensitive means in the form of a blmetal coil type thermostatic element ||2. The other end -..ot thermostatic element ||2 is secured to a pin ||0 which is disposed within and extends transversely oi the thermostat chamber l0 in the extension 10. j a

'The principle or operation of this mixer valve unit is generally similar to that of the unit oi Figures 1 and 2 oi the drawings.

For the purpose oi illustration, let us assume that the temperature oi the fluid mixture rises above that for which the thermostatic element ||2 is adjusted. In such case, the thermostatic element I2 causes the pilot valve I I to approach a `seating position against the washer ||0,. as shown in Figure 3. thereby temporarily closing oir the passageway |00 and passage |00 to cause the iluid pressure within the recess |02 to increase. This increased pressure on the diafrusto-conical portions 80 in the outlets 14 re' which is threaded into the bore |00 and engages the bead 00 of said diaphragm. The Joint formed between the thimble |0| and the outer wall of the casing 00 may conveniently be sealed by the use of suitable gaskets.

phragm 03 causes the valve a1 to move axially against the spring 00 thereby tending to seat the ducing the ow of hot uid admitted to mixing chamber 10 i'rom inlet passage 1|. The irusto.- conical portions 80 are simultaneously caused to move away from a seating position in outlets 10 thereby increasing the ilow of cold fluid to the mixing chamber 13.

As soon as the `temperature of the mixed fluid I is adjusted to the predetermined temperature setting for the thermostatlc element ||2, the pilot valve is immediately shifted to open the passageway |00 and passage |00. This operation reduces the fluid pressure in recess |02 and permits the spring 00 to Vovercome the pressure against diaphragm 03, thereby shifting valve member 01 i to reduce the ow of cold iiuid and increase the The thimble |0| is provided with a recess |02 in the under side thereof disposed adjacent the diaphragm 00. The recess |02 is adapted to communicate with an vannular groove |04 formed about the external periphery of the thimble |0| adjacent the end thereof contacting the bead portion 00 of the diaphragm 03 through a plural-v ity of ports |00 extending substantially radially through the wall of said thimble i0 I.

' 'I'he'annular groove |04 on the -thimble |02 advantageously forms a completely closed channel with respect to the wall of the bore |00 in the casing 00 and is connected, as by means of a passageway |00, with the inlet passage 1| associated with the hot fluid connection 69. A similar passageway |00k connects the aforementioned channel formed between the annui-ar groove |04 and the wall oi the bore |00 with the-external periphery of the projection 80 of the extension be oi' generally cylindrical form is inserted in and extends through the wall of the projection 00 therethrough the substantially conically shaped end of apilot valve which extends into the bore |00.

The pilot valve lli is secured to the iree Aend A guide member |01 which may advantageouslyI now of hot fluid into the mixing chamber 13.

As before, the opposite operationtakes place if the temperature of the mixed fluid drops. The

mixer valve unit of Figure 3, like that of Figures 1 and 2, is sensitive to pressure variations occurring in the individual fluid supplies.

The embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figures 4 to -6 inclusive oi the drawings, although operating on the same general principle or the structures of Figures 1 to 3 inclusive, diiiers considerably therefrom in its construction.

According to this embodiment of the invention, the mixer valve unit comprises a casing ||6 having an externally threaded inlet connection ||0 providing an inlet passage ||1 for connection with a supply of hot iluid and directing it to the chamber H0. The casing ||0 is also provided with an externally threaded connection I0 with which is associated an outlet passage |20 which also connects with the internal chamber ||8 of the ycasing. A cover member |2| is mounted upon |22 and thejoint formed between the cover |2| and the casing ||0 is suitably gasketed to prevent leakage therebetween. The cover member i2| has an externally threaded inlet connection |23 which is adapted to be connected to a suitable conduit for supplying cold iluid to the chamber ||0 in the casing ||0` through the inlet passage |24 associated therewith.

AY substantially rigid enclosure member |25 I made'up oi' two correspondingly shaped shells |20 and |21 secured together in any suitable fashion is supported in the chamber ||0 from a rod |20 by means of a 4membrane |20 which is composed of some suitable flexible material. The rod |20 extends axially oi the inlet passages ||1 and |24 and transversely oi the chamber ||0I bescarse againstshoulders |32 andV |33 therein. One end of the rod |23 is threaded and provided with l. hanged portion |34 and'nutl33 for engaging perfcrated member |30 to prevent shlitable movement of the rod. l J

The rod |23 extends through openings |33 and |31 in the protuberances |33 andA |33, respectively. formed upon the oppositewalls of the shells |23 and |21 of the member |23. 'The membrane |23 is xed to the rod |23 as by means of the male lock nut |40 and female nut 4| which cooperate to engage the periphery of a centrally disposed aperture in the membrane and are disposed at a point substantially equidistant from the ends of said rod. i

Disposed about the protuberances |33 and |33 are the valve members I 43 and |44, respectively, which advantageouslyv take the form of rings composed of 3, suitable flexible materiaLsuch, for example, as rubber, artificial rubber, neoprene and the like. The valve members A|43 and |44 are adapted to contact the seats |43 and |43, respectively, extending into the chamber |3 and formed about the innermost end of the inlet passages The membrane |23 serves to divide the enclosure memberv |23 into a pair of oppositely disposed internal fluid chambers |41 and |43. The fluid chambers |31 and |43 have associated therewith members |43 and |30 which provide outlet ports |3| and |32 for cooperation with a pilot valve |33, the cppcsitely disposed coneshaped ends of which are adapted to alternately ope-n and close ports i3! and |32 to aid in manipulating the valve members |43 and |43 to maintain a predetermined temperature of the fluid in the mixing chamber H3. To accomplish this, the pilot valve |33 is mounted upon the free end of a suitable bi-metal coil thermostat |34 disposed adjacent the outlet passage |30 of the chamber H8. .l y

The other end of the thermostatic element |34 is securedto a pin |33 which is disposed transversely of the chamber ||3 and supported 'by the walls oi' the casing H3. If desired, means may be provided externally of the casing H3 for adiustably positioning the pin |313, thereby enabling the adjustment of `the thermostatic element |54 to produce a mixture .of fluid of any desired temperature. In such thermostatic mixing valve units, it is, however, customary to set the thermostatic element |34 to produce a mixed fluid supply of a predetermined temperature before the unit 4is shipped out by the manufacturer to be employed in a fluid system.

The mixer valve unit illustrated in Figures 4 to 6, inclusive, operates in substantially the same manner as the previously described embodiments of the invention. When the elements of the structure are in the respective positions' illustrated in Figure 4, the hot and cold fluids enter their respective inlet passages ||1 and |24. The fluids pass through openings |33 and |31 in shells |23 and |21 into fluid chambers |41 and '|43 and out through outlet ports |3| and |32 into chamber 3, since the pilot valve is positioned equidistant the outlet ports |3| and |32.

This condition continues only so long as the setting for the thermostatic element |34., As-

temperature of the mixed uid in chamber I3 f is equivalent to the predetermined temperature suming that the temperature of the mixed fluid rises above the predetermined normal temperature, the pilot valve |33 will be shifted bythe thermostatic element |34 toward the outlet port ylli associated with fluid chamber |41 (see Fig- ,ure 3). Iheclosing of outlet port |3| causes the hotiluid to be retained in fluid chamber |41 while the cold fluid in chamber |43 on the opposite side of membrane |23 is drained out through its outlet port |32 more rapidly.

This operation creates a pressure differential on oppositesides of the membrane |23 resulting in the deformation of the membrane thereby bodily shifting the enclosure member- |23 to the left, as seen in Figure 3. The valve member |43 is thus caused to approach the seat |43 reducing the flow of the hot fluid `entering thecharnber ||3 through inlet passage The shifting `of the enclosure member |23 simultaneously `causes, the valve member |44 to be moved away from its seat |43 so as to permit an increased flow of cold fluid into chamber 3.

As in the previously described embodiments, a drop in the temperature of the mixed fluid brings about the reverse of the above operations. Variations in the pressures of the individual fluid supplies also effect the same operation of ,the device for the reason that the proportion of hot and cold fluid entering is altered. Asl a result, the thermostatic element, in each instance, operates to shift the pilot valve to create a pressure differential upon a pressure responsive.

means which results in the re-adjustment of quantities of the component fluids which are' ,mixing together of any fluids having differing characteristics or properties to produce a mixed fluid characterized by .a determined optimum combination of these characteristics. It is intended to include within the scope of the terms "physical characteristics and "properties as applied to the fluids employed in the mixing operation, such features as temperature, pres'- sure, moisture content and the like. Each of these characteristics of the component fluids may readily be employed to aid in producing the result sought to be accomplished.

It will, of course, be understood that various details oi' construction may be varied through a wide range without departing from the principles of this invention and it is, therefore, not the purpose to limit the patent granted hereon otherwise than necessitated by the scope of theV fluid chambers each of which communicates with an inlet, a drain for each fluid chamber, pilot valve means in each drain, said pilot valve means being mounted to selectively open one drain and close `the other, said membrane being secured substantially at its center thereby to enable the container to shift bodily as the membrane 'is deformed, said valve means being operable by movement of said container to alternately open one inlet and close the other in varying degree, thereby to control the admission of fluid to the mixing chamber. t n y* 2. A mixer valve comprisinga housing having a pair of inlet chambers for receiving fluid under pressure, a mixing chamber in said housing, a

port between each of said inlet chambers and said operable to open one drain and close the other a varying amount, mounting means on said housing for securing vsaid diaphragm substantially at its center thereby to enable said container to shift bodily as the diaphragm is deformed, and a valve member on each'of the opposite sides of'said container arranged to control the opening and closing of said port whereby to control the admission of fluid to said mixing chamber.

. 3., A mixer valve for producing a fluid mixture ofpredetermined uniform temperature from two iluids under pressure having different temperatures, said mixer valve comprising a housing, an inlet in said housing for each fluid, valve means in said inlets, an outlet in said housing, for the mixed fluid, a mixing chamber in said housing, aA thermo-sensitive element in said housing between saidinlets and said outlet, an enclosure "within said housing, a flexible membrane separating said enclosure into adjoining fluid chambers, a passageway connecting each chamber with one of said inlets, a drain for each fluid chamber,

said drain having a substantially larger effective y to an unbalanced pressure condition thereby to shift said enclosure bodily to cause said valve y means to alternately open one inlet and close the other by seating against said housing for controlling the admission of fluid to said mixing chamber.

4. A mixer valve comprising a housing, an inlet in said housing for each oi' two iluids under pressure, valve means associated with each of lsaid inlets, an outlet in said housing for the mixed fluid, a mixing chamber in said housing, a fluid container within said housing, a flexible membrane separating the container into adjoiningv fluid chambers each of which communicates with one of said inlets, a fluid drain for each fluid chamber, a valve in each drain, said valves being mounted to selectively open one drain and close the other, said container being free to shift bodily due to the flexing action of said flexible membrane, said Vvalve means being operable by movement of said container to alternately open one inlet and close the other in varying degree, thereby to control the admission of fluid to the mixing chamber.

CLYDE A. BROWN.

REFERENCES CITED ille of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,658,928 Langdon Feb. 14, 1928 1,784,061 Giesler Dec. 9, 1930 1,869,663 Cartier Aug. 2, 1932 2,086,129 Hamilton July 6, 1937 2,145,114 Gibbs Jan. 24, 1939 2,200,318 Yonkers May 14, 1'940 2,217,017 Hoopes Oct. 8,- 1940 2,272,403 Fields Feb. 10, 1942 2,308,165 Fields Jan. 12, 1943 2,316,075l King Apr. 16, 1943 FOREIGN PATENTS Numberl Country Date 720,112 France Dec. 3, 1931 824.202 France Nov. 3, 1937 f 

